The hashtag was trending on Sunday, the result of several Twitter users ridiculing Emerson's assertion. One widely shared tweet included a photo of the Queen donning a head scarf with a caption suggesting that she followed an Islamic dress code when she visits Birmingham.

Emerson eventually apologized and acknowledged that his comments "were totally inaccurate."

But the piling on continued Monday when British Prime Minister David Cameron addressed the matter during an interview with ITV News.

"When I heard this, frankly, I choked on my porridge," Cameron said of Emerson's remark. "I thought it must be April Fool's Day."